Slowing Drivers Down- Speed Trailer with Flashing Lights

Published March 5th, 2014

Loading Video...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Flashing lights in your rearview mirror are enough to make any driver slow down.That is precisely the purpose of a new speed device that's giving drivers pause for concern in one neighborhood.

Williams has her daughter in J.J. Finley Elementary School.She says the speeding problem around the neighborhood is one she doesn't feel comfortable with.

"For drop-off, for drop-off in the morning and pick-up, they're still coming through fast through our school zones," said Williams.

And she's not the only one complaining.

"Mainly we do it in areas that we've had neighborhood complaints of speeding, and the area that the trailer is currently in, is one of those areas," said Ben Tobias, PIO for Gainesville Police Department.

And the residents of northwest 5th Avenue will now know just how fast they're driving… thanks to a speed trailer that catches the drivers attention.

"This particular trailer, you have to be doing five miles an hour over the speed limit… and once you get to that point it is going to flash red and blue lights," said Tobias. "And that's a pretty good signal to someone 'maybe I'm doing something that I shouldn't be doing.'"

After learning the red and blue lights only flash if you're driving five miles above the speed limit, TV20 decided to test it out. Seeing the flashing lights definitely catches your attention, making drivers slow down and pay attention to the speed.

"Any time that we can, you know, have negative reinforcement for speeding, is a good thing. And what we'll say that those red and blue lights behind you no matter if they're coming from a police car or from a sign, is gonna make you tap the breaks once or twice," said Tobias.

And it certainly has.This particular design of speed trailer is the only one GPD has… and it's being placed in areas where residents call in to complain about speeding.